Masala Chickpea Pilau (Chana Pulao)
Fluffy basmati rice cooked in a spiced onion and tomato sauce with chickpeas, a satisfying one pot supper.
Made with Curry base sauce (onion and tomato) and Ginger and garlic paste and Garam masala (homemade). Make a batch of the base first, then this takes minutes. Skip to the method
- Time45 min
- LevelMedium
- Costabout £0.60 a head
Cost is worked out from Aldi and Tesco shelf prices in October 2026. Your shop and brands will differ.
Ingredients
Tick what you need to buy. It goes on your shopping list.
Method
- 1
Rinse the rice in cold water until it runs almost clear, then soak for 20 minutes and drain.
20 min - 2
Heat the oil in a wide pan with a lid over a medium heat. Add the cumin seeds, cardamom, cinnamon and bay leaves and fry for 30 seconds. Add the onion and cook for 8 minutes until golden.
8 min - 3
Stir in your ready made ginger and garlic paste (see the base recipe) and fry for 1 minute. Add your ready made curry base sauce (see the base recipe) and cook for 3 minutes.
3 min - 4
Add the chickpeas, rice, water and salt and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to the lowest setting, cover tightly and cook for 12 minutes.
12 min - 5
Take off the heat and leave covered for 10 minutes without lifting the lid.
10 min - 6
Fluff with a fork, fold in the garam masala and coriander and serve with a simple salad.
Tips
- Measure the water carefully. The base adds moisture, so 450 ml is enough for 300 g of soaked rice.
- Do not lift the lid while the rice steams. The steam does the cooking.
- Remove the whole spices before serving, or warn guests not to bite into a cardamom pod.
Storing and freezing
Cool within 1 hour and refrigerate. Eat within 1 day and reheat only once until steaming hot all the way through, because reheated rice can carry food poisoning bacteria if cooled slowly.
Questions
Do I have to soak the rice?
Soaking gives longer, separate grains and a shorter cooking time. If you skip it, add about 50 ml more water.
Is it gluten free and vegan?
Yes. It is free from gluten, dairy, egg and nuts as written.
Can I add vegetables?
Yes. Peas, diced carrot or green beans can go in with the rice. Keep the total amount to about 200 g.
More made with curry base sauce (onion and tomato)
Trinidad Style Curry Beef with Potatoes
DFEFNFMachli Kofta Curry (Fish Kofta in Spiced Sauce)
DFEFNFKeema Naan Pizza with Mint Yoghurt
EFNFPrawn Biryani (Jhinga Biryani)
GFEFNFSee every dish made with curry base sauce (onion and tomato)
Double check before you cook. Recipes can contain mistakes. Any diet labels come from the ingredients as written in this recipe and are a guide, not a guarantee. Always check every ingredient and the packet label for allergens and cross contamination, and ask your doctor or dietitian what is right for you, especially with coeliac disease, diabetes or a serious allergy. This is not medical advice.
